13 party-list groups can’t join 2013 polls

THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday disqualified 13 party-list groups, including the top performing organization in the 2010 elections.

The groups who were not allowed to participate in next year’s polls are Ako Bicol (AKB), 1-AANI, 1-BRO Philippine Guardians Brotherhood Inc. (1-BRO PGBI), 1Guardians Nationalist of the Philippines Inc. (1Ganap/Guardians), First People’s Initiative for Indigent Student Athletes (1st Prisa), A Blessed Party-list and Alliance for National Urban Poor Organizations Assembly Inc. (Anupa), Alliance for Rural Concerns (ARC), Association for Righteousness Advocacy on Leadership (ARAL), Atong Paglaum, Organization of Regional Advocates for Good Governance Onward Nation-Building (Oragon) United Movement Against Drug Foundation Inc. (Unimad) and Yes We Can.

In the case of AKO Bicol, the poll body said that the group should not have been allowed to run in the first place because it does not represent a marginalized or underrepresented sector.

“Walang regional representation pero may tatlo pang regional incumbent congressmen, [it’s] multi-sectoral, ni-re-represent nila lahat. It is a political party not a party-list [It has no regional representation but its has three regional incumbent congressmen, it’s multi-sectoral because it represents all sectors],” Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. said.

He said that the group was accredited as a political party in 2010.

“It does not mean that if you’re a political party, you can just run in the party-list system without filing a separate petition, which they did not do,” Brillantes said.

During the 2010 elections, AKB garnered the highest votes of 1,524,006 votes, earning three seats at the House of Representatives. The group’s representatives are Christopher Co, Rodel Batocabe, and Alfredo Garbin Jr.

The Comelec’s en banc said that these representatives do not appear to be marginalized since Co is a businessman, while Batocabe and Garbin are lawyers.

The poll body ruled that the three lawmakers can finish their terms until June 30, 2013 and the group’s accreditation as a political party will be retained.

The group’s representatives said that they will appeal the Comelec’s decision. –JOHANNA M. SAMPAN REPORTER, Manila Times